Indoor plant air cleaner

A long-time favourite for houseplant lovers, the Peace Lily is one of the top air purifying plants as it can help filter out certain harmful compounds. If you do plan on adding this one to your plant collection, it's worth knowing that it is poisonous to cats and dogs.

Care advice: Peace lilies can tolerate short periods of dry soil, but their leaves will start to brown if neglected for too long. To keep it thriving, place it in bright, indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist.

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With leathery leaves and a pop of colour, the Scarlet Star Bromeliad is a beautiful houseplant that is incredibly long-lasting. As well as helping to clean up the air in your home, these flowering plants love humid environments and are great when placed in the bathroom.

Care advice: Ensure this plant is always well watered, but never soggy. Place your plant in a location with moderate to bright light year-round, avoiding direct sunlight.

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21.

Famous for large, glossy green leaves, the Philodendron purifies the air by removing formaldehyde — a chemical compound which tends to occur in building materials. As well as looking beautiful placed at home, you can be sure that it will also clean the air for you.

Care advice: Philodendron care is simple, as the plant can readily adapt to any indoor environment. Ensure it has plenty of sunlight, fertiliser and water.

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22. Calathea

Known for the unique leaf movements of patterned foliage, Calathea plants have an exotic feel that will brighten up any room. With their beautiful yet unique colouring, the Calathea plant purifies the surrounding air by filtering out a multitude of compounds that are poisonous.

Care advice: In order to survive, they need to be placed in a consistently warm and bright spot, yet not in direct light.

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23.

With its wide, attractive, dark green leaves, this eye-catching houseplant is perfect for a home office. Not only are they hard to kill (perfect for beginners), but these plants work hard to remove toxins such as xylene, toluene and benzene from the air.

Care advice: Zanzibar gems need watering every two to three weeks, however expect to water them more often in brighter light.

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24. Croton

These varied plants are incredibly popular houseplants, loved for their colourful foliage and nearly limitless leaf forms. As well as having some of the boldest and brightest leaves around, Crotons also help to filter out airborne toxins.

Care advice: This is a tropical houseplant, so caring for it involves proper watering and humidity. While it needs frequent watering, too much water can cause root rot.

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25.

The Dieffenbachia is a lush and showy plant with oval leaves that are attractively marked with dark green at the edges. Ideal for creating a tropical look, its foliage takes toxins out of the air, so your family can breathe easier.

Care advice: Dieffenbachias like regular moisture and do not want to dry out, however make sure you don't overwater it.

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26. Clivia

Grown for their bold strap-shaped, dark green leaves, Clivia houseplants are tough, resilient and thrive when neglected. Not only do they purify the air, but they will also produce the most stunning bright orange blooms.

Care advice: Clivias should be placed in bright, filtered or indirect light. Scorching sunlight may burn the leaves, so place pots away from bright sun and other sources of heat.

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10 ways to keep a home fresh |

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It's easy, with a little know-how, to bring air cleaning indoor plants into your home to keep you happy and healthy. With so many tempting plants on offer, making decisions can be tricky. But did you realize that some possess extra air purifying qualities? Knowing which ones absorb harmful toxins can help narrow down your wish list as well as making your home more restful and inviting.

One well-known study regarding indoor plants and air quality was conducted by NASA in 1989. Scientists were studying natural ways to purify the air in enclosed spaces, such as space stations, and today this has led to further insight into how particular plants can benefit our homes.

Best air cleaning indoor plants

Together with expert tips, our guide will inform you of everything you need to know, including where to position and how to care for air purifying plants. Many of these options make great additions as kitchen plants due to their air purifying properties.

1. Bird’s nest fern

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A true stylish beauty, these crinkly leaved ferns are great air cleaning indoor plants, purifying the air of formaldehyde, often found in new flooring and wall coverings. With glossy lime green fronds growing in rosettes, they make a striking statement on a shelf or bathroom windowsill as a bathroom plants, but will need up to 2ft (60cm) to splay out as they mature. 

Coming from the forests of Asia and Australasia these plants grow in the tops of trees and are used to varying light conditions from bright and airy to semi shade. What they do need though is moisture, so a spot in a humid shower room or ensuite is definitely their happy place. Mist every other day, particularly if they live in a dryer room but only water if the top inch of soil is dry. Room temperatures between 65-75ºF (18-24ºC) are ideal, avoid places below 55ºF (13ºC).

2. Areca palm – or bamboo palm, butterfly palm

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Elegance personified, these are the graceful arcing palms that adorned Art Deco hotel foyers, tea rooms and danced halls. Native to Madagascar, they have distinctive smooth tipped branches and naturally cast a beautiful, dappled light. Thanks to these broad leaves, this plant – along with many other types of palm – excels at removing mold spores and ammonia (often found in household cleaning products) from the air, making it perfect for bath and shower rooms. 

‘This house plant likes bright light that is filtered,’ says Mark Lawlor of Happy Houseplants . ‘This is because too much sun can lead to scorching the leaves. Best practice is to place the Dypsis Lutescens near a south or west-facing window with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.’ Thriving at temperatures around 65-75°F (18-24°C) make sure the palm is clear of any drafts or radiators which can cause stress.

A little fussy when it comes to watering, palms tend to prefer distilled or rainwater – as the fluoride in mains tap water can cause the leaves to crisp and turn brown. Water the soil regularly but ensure that it is allowed to dry out in between. Also ensure that there is good drainage as these tropical plants are prone to root rot if left standing in water.

3. Spider plant – or Hen and Chickens, ribbon plant

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A classic air cleaning indoor plant, the spider plant's benefits are numerous so it’s hard to imagine any home not having one of these striped leaved beauties tucked away somewhere. But more than just an easy-to-grow favorite, these plants are formidable at removing formaldehyde, toluene and xylene all chemicals found in many synthetic fabrics, paints and glues. They have also been proved to lower carbon monoxide levels too.

Favoring temperatures between 55 and 80°F (13–27°C), Spider plants are one of the easiest and most tolerant indoor plants you can grow, even coping with artificial light, just keep them away from strong, direct sunlight which will crisp the leaves.

Water regularly during the spring and summer growing period and occasionally through fall and winter. Plant up in pots and place on a high shelf or windowsill or display in hanging planters. Unlike many other indoor plants, they are also non-toxic for pets too.

4. Dragon plant - Dracaena

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One of the most effective plants for absorbing trichloroethylene – a major VOC – the dragon plant is also extremely handsome and perfect for making a lush and bold leafy statement. Perhaps one of the easiest indoor plants to grow, it can live for decades if well cared for. 

Preferring semi-shade, these well-natured plants come in all shapes and sizes, and colours. From tall glossy green corn stalk plants to the Dracaena bi-color with its pink and white edged green leaves, they make striking and individual statement plants. With some varieties growing up to 10ft high, these plants prefer semi shade and are happy in temperatures of 60-70°F (16-24°C). This plant can survive lower temperatures (as low as 50°F or 10°C), but the leaves will suffer, usually turning yellow.

Dragon plants don’t tend to cope well with mains tap water due to the added chemicals, so use a distilled or harvested rainwater instead. Aim to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged and mist frequently with warm water.

5. English ivy

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Quick to grow and happy in most spots around the house, regardless of temperature or light conditions, English or European ivy is a real winner. It’s attractive, trailing stems of distinctive evergreen leaves are particularly effective at reducing airborne toxic chemicals. 

The team at The Joy of Plants say: ‘Ivy removes trichloroethylene and benzene from the air and is especially good at removing formaldehyde; a substance that occurs in almost all indoor environments (such as chipboard, furniture and textiles).’ 

Its foliage has also been shown to help reduce mold, making it a useful plant for damp spaces such as an ensuite or bathroom.

Performing best in direct sunlight, well drained soil and with plenty of water it will make a stunning statement draping down from a shelf or hanging planter. Keep at a steady temperature of between 52-71°F (11-22°C) for healthy growth.

Ivy is also excellent as a bedroom plant, either trailing over a bedside table, or hanging from a hanger placed above the bed.

6. Money plant – Pilea peperomioides

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With its flat, green circular leaves that can grow as big as 5in (15cm) across, the Chinese money plant is instantly recognizable. One of the most effective indoor plants for air purification they are particularly effective at reducing levels of harmful chemicals found in carpets, paints, glues and manmade fabrics. 

A member of the stinging nettle family, this unusual plant can grow up to 16 inches (40 cm) high and loves a light spot, away from strong sunlight. Water when the soil is dry to the touch and feed monthly with a liquid feed during spring and summer. 

Although largely unfussy, these plants don’t like temperatures that dip below 50°F (10°C) so aim to keep them between a comfortable 55-86°F (13-30°C). Be sure to turn a Chinese money plant regularly to maintain a balanced and attractive shape and don’t worry if it sheds its lower leaves, as this is entirely normal.  

7. Weeping fig – Ficus

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Slow growing with a mass of glossy leaves, these indoor trees are not only ideal for adding impact and interest to an empty corner but are brilliant air cleaning indoor plants, too. Filtering harmful formaldehyde, xylene and toluene and replacing them with oxygen, they are a great addition to busy kitchens, living areas and home offices.

Reaching from 3ft to 10ft (90-304cm) they like a bright spot with plenty of space to spread their arching branches. They are a little diva-ish though as they dislike being moved around or disturbed, dropping their leaves in protest, so carefully assess the perfect spot before homing your plant. They do tend to grow towards the light, so turn regularly to maintain a balanced, even shape.

A steady room temperature of around 60°F (16°C) is perfect for these plants but do avoid cold drafts and areas that dip below 55°F (13°C) as this will lead to leaf drop. Over watering is the main problem with weeping figs as they hate sitting in puddles. Only water when the top inch of the compost is bone dry and use tepid water to avoid shocking the plant. Feed fortnightly with a liquid feed during spring and summer and, for mature plants, top up compost levels annually. It’s worth knowing that these plants can be toxic to some pets, so maybe worth avoiding if you have curious pets.

8. Snake plant or Mother in Law’s Tongue

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It may not appear to be the most restful plant to have in a bedroom, but sansevieria is one of a few plants that continues produce oxygen in near dark conditions. It’s also very effective at eliminating airborne formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, benzene, xylene and trichloroethylene, all chemicals that can often be found in synthetic carpets, glues, paint and other interior fittings.

With its twisting sword-like leaves and stripy markings, it makes this plant the perfect showstopper for a side table, windowsill or neat corner. Tough and extremely drought tolerant, they are relatively slow growing, and can cope with low light conditions but will grow faster in brighter positions.

Native to west Africa these plants can stay outside in HDSA zones 9-12. They will die though if left in temperatures below 50°F or exposed to frost. Water once a week during spring and summer but do drop to once a month in fall and winter when the plant is dormant.

There are plenty of different varieties of snake plant to choose from, including dwarf varieties such as Sansevieria fischeri at 16 inches (40cm) up to 3-4ft (91-121cm) for Masoniana and trifasciata types. 

The experts at Patch Plants suggest, ‘Every now and again – just whenever you remember – give her leaves a light wipe to keep her pores free of dust.’

9. Aloe vera

(Image credit: Alamy)

A superstar amongst indoor plants, aloe vera is not only striking to look at and blessed with healing properties, but it can help purify the air too. A great absorber of VOCs often found in newly laid flooring, paint and glue, it takes in carbon dioxide and produces oxygen at night making it ideal for bedrooms in particular.

The fleshly leaves store water so they can happily cope with less than regular watering, but what they do need is constant warmth. Preferring room temperatures of 50-85°F, these natives of the Arabian Peninsula must be kept clear of cold drafts and frost. They can grow outside in HDSA zones of 8-11, but in exposed or marginal areas it may be better to plant in a pot and move inside and out as the temperatures dictate.

Pot up with succulent and cacti compost and feed with a specialist liquid feed weekly during spring and summer.

10. Peace lily 

(Image credit: Alamy)

With its glossy tear shaped leaves and pure white flowers, the peace lily is one of the most popular house plants, and is a great air cleaning indoor plant. Effortlessly chic, they radiate tranquillity and simplicity, but also break down and neutralize toxic household gases like benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. 

This plant reaches around 30in high (75cm) and will thrive in temperatures 64-75°F (18-24°C) but can cope with lows of 53°F (12°C). Loving a humid and bright spot – but away from direct light which can scorch the deep green leaves – these plants are particularly well suited to a steamy kitchen, bathroom or shower room. 

Preferring moist soil, these plants will tell you when they are thirsty as the leaves will droop. Pop it next to the shower for the occasional boost or mist with a water spray. Feed with a liquid feed fortnightly during spring and summer.

What is the best air purifying indoor plant?

Chrysanthemums (below) are the most effective plant at cleansing the air. Eliminating common VOCs such as formaldehyde, xylene, benzene it can also absorb ammonia which is present in many household cleaners and floor sealers. Unusually it’s the flowers that extract the chemicals from the air, so you may need to replace regularly or rotate a few plants while old blooms fade, and new buds emerge.

(Image credit: Alamy)

How many plants does it take to purify the air in a room?

According to the 1989 Nasa study on Interior Landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement, author B. C. Wolverton recommends having at least two ‘good sized’ plants per 100 sq ft (9.2 sqm) of indoor space. Suggested plants include Golden pothos (below), Boston Fern and Weeping Fig. 

(Image credit: Jake Curtis)

Where to buy air plants?

You can buy air cleaning indoor plants at your local nursery; ask for guidance if you need help. Otherwise, shop online for the best places to buy plants. These include: 

• Amazon air plants
• Bloomscape air plants
• Burpee
• Etsy air plants
• Home Depot's Garden Center
• Lowe's air plants
• The Sill air plants
• Walmart air plants

You can buy indoor low light plants at your local nursery; ask for guidance if you need help. Otherwise, shop online for the best places to buy plants. These include: Lowes Garden Center , Home Depot's Garden Center and Burpee for the best buys.

You can buy indoor low light plants at your local nursery; ask for guidance if you need help. Otherwise, shop online for the best places to buy plants. These include: Lowes Garden Center , Home Depot's Garden Center and Burpee for the best buys.

Jill Morgan has spent the last 20 years writing for Interior and Gardening magazines both in print and online. Titles she has been lucky enough to work on include House Beautiful, The English

Home, Ideal Home, Modern Gardens and Gardeningetc.com. Although much of her career has involved commissioning and writing about reader homes and home improvement projects, her

everlasting passion is for gardens and outdoor living, which is what she writes about for Homes & Gardens. 

Top 8 Indoor Filter Plants. What plants are best for purifying the air? List, photo - Botanichka

The importance of indoor plants for the ecosystem in the house cannot be overestimated. They not only bring peace and harmony, but also directly affect the vital characteristics of the habitat. Thanks to the processes of photosynthesis, indoor plants release oxygen and heal the atmosphere, play the role of natural humidifiers and even phytoncides. But the most important function of indoor crops is considered to be air purification. These are the most natural of all available filters, capable of “sucking” toxins, chemical compounds and even traces of heavy metals from the air. And among these natural cleaners there are real stars who can cope with the task at hand with amazing efficiency. We will talk about them in this post.

Scientists have long and persistently sought to pay attention to the level of air pollution in our homes. According to recent studies, it is several times, and sometimes ten times more polluted than even on city streets. Added to the harmful substances in the air we breathe outdoors are dozens of factors that exacerbate this problem.

All paintwork, building materials and even furniture emit toxins and poisons, not to mention plastic products, the effects of cooking and the use of a variety of household chemicals, allergens and dust.

Formaldehyde, benzene, phenol, toluene, trichlorethylene, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, staphylococci, spores of other fungi and pathogens, soot microparticles, combustion products, dust mites, pollen - all these substances are present in the air of any house and apartment. And even with a very strict approach and the choice of environmentally friendly materials and decor, the task of air purification does not disappear anywhere.

If installing humidifiers or air conditioners with a filter function, special purifiers is not always possible, appropriate or desirable, then the easiest (and, surprisingly, the most reliable) way to fight for clean air is with indoor plants.

Harmless, devoid of flaws and not requiring much effort or expense, plants cope with the task of purifying the air, albeit more slowly, but much more efficiently. Plants do not just absorb carbon dioxide and actively enrich indoor air with oxygen. They effectively fight volatile chemicals, toxins, and organic compounds.

But do not think that to purify the air it is enough to buy and put one plant per room. On average, the radius of phytoncidal, cleansing and antibacterial activity of plants covers an area of ​​​​up to 5 m, and the effect of plants on fungi and bacteria is limited to a distance of 2.5-3 m. But the plant will perform the functions of cleaning from allergens at a greater distance.

In order for indoor plants to replace any filters and be able to improve and purify the air in the house, at least one indoor plant is placed for every 10 square meters. Grouping, displaying plants in compositions and collections enhances their filtering effect and improves the microclimate. It is better to place filter plants not on window sills and not along the perimeter, but inside the interior - this way they will more fully perform the cleaning functions.

And not all plants are the same. Some cultures have a more pronounced ability to absorb harmful substances, others are more active in fighting allergens, and there are also plants that saturate the air with oxygen better than others.

Plants dominate in the room assortment, the influence of which is favorable, but they practically do not have a filtering, cleansing function. But there are also real natural filters. Such cultures are different:

• anti-inflammatory and immunity-enhancing, soothing, due to the release of essential oils;
• with antiviral and antibacterial activity, due to the release of volatile substances into the air;
• sucking harmful compounds from the air, absorbing, literally, absorbing them through the leaves.

Plants - it's still not a universal, "failsafe" solution to the problem. They show the functions of air purification to the maximum during the period of active development, but at the stage of rest, their ability to purify the air decreases.

Young plants are better filters than old ones, and the filters in plants are leaves, not stems or flowers. In almost every plant, the activity of absorbing harmful substances and photosynthesis changes during the day, depending on air temperature and even illumination (for example, sansevieria produces the most oxygen at night, and chlorophytum during the day).

Different plants suit different rooms. In small ones, compact classic crops like aloe or peperomia are placed, and in large ones, you can use large woody ones - Benjamin's ficus and even citrus fruits. Dampness or dryness of the air also play a role.

Let's take a closer look at indoor crops that most actively affect the composition and characteristics of air.

See the next page for a list of the best indoor filter plants.

Air Purifier Plants

The world we live in is saturated with synthetic chemicals, most of which are toxic. Deodorants, body lotions, detergents, paints, varnishes, adhesives, synthetic fabrics and carpets, tobacco smoke, shampoos, gasoline, acetone, aldehydes, ethanol - these and other substances poison you most of the time in your home, including in time to sleep. The result of this daily poisoning can be fatigue, insomnia, headache, dizziness, decreased performance, and in more severe cases - eczema, rashes, nausea, swelling of the body, shortness of breath, palpitations, joint pain. These manifestations depend on genes, age, sex, diet, general health and mood, which affects immunity.

About 37% of Americans suffer from allergies to various chemicals.

Modern buildings for energy efficiency are built tightly closed to prevent energy loss from the heating and air conditioning system. The ventilated air inside a building contains all kinds of solvents, including formaldehyde (an extremely toxic chemical). Synthetic building materials release pollutants that constantly circulate in these unventilated spaces. Carpets exacerbate the situation because they absorb a lot of substances, which are then released gradually over a long period of time. All this is called "sick building syndrome". Poor indoor air quality alone costs the US tens of billions of dollars a year in lost productivity and health care.

NASA's environmental studies on Earth and in space a few years ago suggested an unexpected, economical, environmentally friendly, all-natural method for detoxifying buildings. This unique remedy is ordinary houseplants. The research was led by Dr. Bill Woolverton.

Plants act as air pumps. In daylight, they absorb carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis. In addition, plants breathe all the time - they take oxygen from the air. Plants also release moisture mainly through the leaves and thus maintain the required level of humidity in the room. Water and gases enter and exit through small pores called stoma. Closed or open stomas show how active the plants are at the moment.

19 types of ornamental plants have been tested for their effectiveness in eliminating air pollution. 17 of them are ordinary indoor plants and 2 types of seasonal flowers. Some houseplants have proven so effective at absorbing toxins from the air that they have been recommended for integration into biological life support systems aboard future orbiting space stations.

Each plant species was tested in sealed glass chambers that were injected with chemicals.

Trichlorethylene is used in the degreasing of metal surfaces and in the cleaning industry, in printing inks, finishing dyes, varnishes and adhesives. The best results were shown by spathiphyllum (elimination of toxins from cleaning products), dracaena (from glue, dyes, varnishes), gerbera (from glue), as well as the bamboo palm hamedorea.

Benzene is the most common solvent in many substances such as gasoline, paints, oils, plastics and rubber, it is also found in detergents, pharmaceuticals. Chronic exposure to it provokes headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness, nervousness, psychological problems and blood diseases (such as anemia) and bone marrow diseases.

Ivy, gerbera, indoor chrysanthemum, spathiphyllum, chamedorea and sansevieria (mother-in-law's tongue) turned out to be the champion among plants for removing benzene. Moreover, aglaonema and chrysanthemum more effectively cleansed of toxins that were released from detergents, while dracaena from toxins from dyes, tobacco smoke and rubber. Ivy easily absorbed harmful substances from petroleum products, and gerbera from plastics.

Formaldehyde is even more common than benzene and more toxic. It is distinguished by chipboard, pressed wood, from which most of the furniture is made. This substance is found in resins, wax paper and paper towels. Most common household cleaners also contain formaldehyde. It is also emitted by natural gas.

The champion plants for removing formaldehyde were bamboo palm (hamedorea), sansivieria, dracaena, spathiphyllum, epipremnum (scindapsus), philodendron (from carpets and furniture), ficus, ivy (from detergents) and chlorophytum (from plywood and Chipboard).

The table shows the numbers showing how many pollutants were absorbed by the plants from the sealed room in 24 hours:

NASA recommended plants are:

1. Philodendron scandens
2. Philodendron domesticum (Philodendron domesticum)
3. Dracaena fragrans cv. Massangeana, Janet Craig and Warneckii
4. Common ivy (Hedera helix)
5. Chlorophytum comosum
6. Ficus benjamina
7. Golden Scindapsus (Epipremnum) (Scindapsus aureus)
8. Spathiphyllum cultivar Mauna Loa
9. Philodendron bipinnatifidum
10. Aglaonema modestum
11. Chamaedorea sefritzii, bamboo palm
12. Sansevieria trifasciata, mother-in-law's tongue
13. Dracaena bordered (Dracaena marginata
14. Gerbera jamesonii
    
15. Chinese chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium)

In the process of research, it was found that the effectiveness of plants was different depending on the amount of light. The best plant in intensive light was ficus and some types of dieffenbachia. In medium light conditions, chamedorea and dracaena were the most effective. In low light conditions - spathiphyllum.

Plants can be more effective at removing air pollutants by adding activated carbon to the soil.

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